Gaoqiao Mangrove Forest

　　In Gaoqiao Town lies China’s largest contiguous mangrove belt—the core area of the Zhanjiang Mangrove National Nature Reserve in Guangdong, hailed by visitors as the “Natural Marine Wetland Paradise.” The reserve stretches 27 kilometers in length and covers an area of over 37,500 mu. From afar, it appears as a dense, vast expanse of layered greenery. The great Northern Song Dynasty literary master Su Dongpo once left behind the historic site “Songming Eight Wells” here.

　　The reserve features fertile soil, high salinity, and a crisscrossing network of tidal creeks, forming a complex ecological environment that provides ideal conditions for the growth of mangroves and other marine flora and fauna. The area is home to 159 species of benthic diatoms, 97 species of phytoplankton, and more than 170 species of resident and migratory birds, along with 133 species of insects. There are also 26 species of zooplankton, and 111 species of large benthic organisms such as the Chinese white dolphin, sea turtles, and sea snakes. Whales weighing over ten tons have also been spotted in the forested area. Moving slowly through the woods are squid, bobbing prawns, domineering crabs, creeping snails, and chirping birds—all coming together to form a marvelous “marine forest paradise.” In 2001, new infrastructure within the reserve, including a seaside promenade, forest observation trails, forest viewing pavilions, and a mangrove archway, added new charm for visitors.